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Defence dept cancels Merc

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Pretoria - The department of defence will not be following in the footsteps of other government officials, who spend millions of rands on the purchase of new vehicles.

The planned acquisition of a new E-class Mercedes-Benz for use in Cape Town by department officials will be cancelled, while any "extras" for new a vehicle in Pretoria will also be cancelled.

Siphiwe Dlamini, spokesperson for the ministry of defence, said in response to queries by Beeld that the department has decided not to "take delivery of the vehicle in Cape Town", in light of the non-availability of budget funds.

Saving R2.5m

The estimated cost of the two vehicles, along with some new furniture for a flat in Cape Town, was reported to be in the vicinity of R2.5m.

The other vehicle, a Mercedes minibus, was delivered without any extras, but apparently there had been plans to have it fitted with, among other things, a bar and a DVD player with a screen for each seat.

The flat in Green Point, Cape Town, is made available by the department of public works to the defence department for use during official visits to Cape Town.

Tsepe Motumi is currently the acting defence secretary.


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